Composed in Salzburg in 1776, the Divertimento in B Flat major K254 was still rooted in the 'gallant' style (richly enhanced, nevertheless, thanks to Mozart’s typical elegance and unmistakable personality). The remaining five piano trios, however, were composed approximately a decade after the first one: they make much more substantial use of all three instruments‘ technical and expressive potential. This innovation opened new horizons, preparing the terrain for masterpieces by Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms in the same genre.

In Mozart’s last five piano trios we thus no longer have a mere keyboard monologue allowing the violin and cello to timidly get a word in edgewise.